Treacy downs battling Bantams

Keith Treacy was the Preston hero as the Championship outfit survived a Bradford fightback to progress.

Treacy strike sees North End home in extra-time

Keith Treacy was the Preston hero as the Championship outfit survived a Bradford fightback to progress into the Carling Cup third round. The Republic of Ireland international winger hit a superb winner in extra-time at Valley Parade to break the Bantams' hearts. The move began when the Preston man saw his angled shot from the left hit the Bradford crossbar. When the home side failed to clear the danger, substitute Darel Russell turned the ball back into the path of Treacy who fired into the net with a fine 25-yard left-footed strike. The goal came in the 109th minute and battling Bradford - who had knocked Championship side Nottingham Forest out of the cup last time - could not find a reply. Earlier, the League Two outfit fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Paul Coutts put Preston ahead with a 25-yard shot which sneaked in after goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin had twice denied Treacy. However, the home side fought back after the interval and were rewarded with an 83rd-minute equaliser. Left-back Luke O'Brien found substitute striker Jake Speight unmarked in the box, and the close-season signing from Mansfield headed the ball into the net to send the tie into extra-time before Treacy had the final say.